STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — "Probably there is no avian family which through the ages has been subjected to such extremes of admiration and condemnation as the birds if prey" — Alexander Sprunt Jr

There is an interesting out of print book called "North American Birds of Prey." Author Alexander Sprunt Jr. writes about hawks, falcons, eagles, owls; all the species diurnal and nocturnal. In a modern scientific sense, some of what he described was actually something else, birds confused one for another. It is not a guide to start out with if you want technical information on identification.

Still, there is something that comes out in the way he approaches these birds. As you read you learn almost as much about him as you do about his subject, and that is one of the interesting things about these birds. We identify our nation with the Bald Eagle while individually recognizing things in raptors that we see in ourselves and others: Wise as an 'owl' and opportunists who are 'vultures' are just two personality traits, while eagle-eyed, hawk-nosed, and old buzzard are physical descriptions.

Raptors, or birds of prey, are at the top of the pyramid, the top of the predator chain. They prey on, and are not prey to, other species. It is illegal to kill a raptor, and even to possess the feathers is a crime. We've protected them, by law, from ourselves.

A lot of what we see wheeling around the skies of Staten Island during the day are turkey vultures. They circle lazily using their sharp sense of smell and keen eyesight to locate dead animals. At night you can hear owls calling in the woods. What do these birds look like close up? We decided to find out by going to the New Jersey Raptor Trust about an hour north of the Outerbridge Crossing.

This raptor rescue provides a unique opportunity to see eagles, hawks, owls, falcons and vultures with just the separation of screen barrier. The birds that are on view are former rescue patients that were unable to be released back into the wild. As a boy in Pennsylvania, I'd ride my bike half a mile up the road to a raptor rescue to look at the birds, and I remember the first time one of the handlers put a leather glove on my arm and settled a hawk there. Looking into its eyes I tried to imagine its view from above the world.

While these birds on view will never soar again, in the infirmary they are working to save the lives and return to the wild birds who have been injured. Of around 4,000 birds that are brought here each year injured, raptors make up about 10%. The birds here come from all over New Jersey as well as Staten Island, Brooklyn and Manhattan and the Hudson valley, some from animal control centers, but most brought in by the people who found them. On the day we visit, most of the birds in the infirmary are ones that have fallen from nests, injured during the spring and the burst new nestlings. Throughout the year the most common injuries are birds that are hit by cars, or that fly into windows.

As Robert Blair, who works in the infirmary, talks for a minute about the work of the rescue, you can hear young grackles in the background. He talks about their release program. Adult birds, especially during breeding season, are reintroduced as close to where they were found, and younger birds are often placed back in suitable habitats near the rescue.

After our visit, when we spot these distant flyers, or hear an owl call through the night, we'll have been introduced to them close up so that we can write about them better.

Ofthe birds that we see, the vultures are the most interested in looking at us, flying over and perching on the wood rail above our heads. My favorites are the three Northern Saw-whet owls that sit dozing on a perch at the back of their enclosure. My son prefers the Red-tailed hawk, so common when I was a kid that we overlooked them hoping to see eagles and owls.

Kids view: "I was at the NJ Raptor trust. It was a beautiful sight. I saw many different species of birds. It was amazing. I can't say which is my favorite, but one of my favorites is the Red-tailed Hawk. I've had a passion for them since I saw one up close with hurt wings around a year or so ago, and helped save it. I saw a lot of different owls, like barn owls, screech owls. If you ever go, you might like to go to the gift shop. But I mostly go for the birds. One of my favorite things there was the albino robin. It was beautiful. I've never seen anything like it. Another one of my favorites was the falcons. I liked their eyes. Many of the birds there at the Raptor Trust are rescued young and the parents have been separated from the children. Sometimes when they find a parent bird they re-release it where they found it. With all these things, I think you will like the Raptor Trust. I did."

The Raptor Trust is a private, non-profit organization that runs on private donations and contributions. They are building, expanding to provide homes for more birds that are unable to be rereleased into the wild. Tours are free, but without government assistance, donations are truly appreciated.

You can visit the Raptor Trust daily from 9 a.m.- 5 p.m before Memorial Day and 9 a.m - 7 p.m after. They are located at: